New Kit for New diver

[Eiderfleur]

Hi folks,

I've been lurking here for a while now but only just registered to post.

A little background about me before I jump in there asking for advice.

I'm 28, female approximately 5'5 and of a slightly bigger build than I would like.

I am also looking to purchase my first set of dive gear, I have looked extensively at sites, information and also read these boards about gear.

I have a rough idea of what I would like to buy but need a little advice on a couple of things.

Firstly, my fiancé is a qualified BSAC and PADI instructor (I have been harassing him for the last three years to teach me to dive and finally when I realised it wasn't going to happen through him, I demanded he give me the phone number of a dive instructor friend of his and contacted him myself.

I've had three dives so far and am due to have my dry suit orientation tonight in the pool. Of these three dives two weren't ideal.

The first dive I had was approximately 5m of water, in the South of France, my BCD didn't fit properly as I said I'm a big girl and the straps on my chest wouldn’t do up tight enough and the cummerbund wasn't enough to support the BCD. I also didn’t have enough weights (I appear to be extremely buoyant for someone my size). This being said I had my fiancé swimming behind me and "guiding" me downwards (without this I would barely have been able to get below the water surface). However, this being said I found it enjoyable and loved this new world I was discovering and had no idea about at all before then.

My second dive was my first swimming pool dive and it went fantastically, I am an excellent swimmer and very good in the water due to years of swimming clubs and synchronised swimming lessons etc when I was younger, this dive was in my bathing suit so I was comfortable and everything went well.

My third dive almost put me off for life. Again it was in the pool but it was my first time in a dry suit. I was using my fiancé's neoprene dry suit which obviously had size 12 boots (I'm a size 5-6) and the neck seal on it was for a man who has at least a 17 inch neck. I think after measurements made at a later date mine is approximately 13-14. Well we can figure out that I was leaking water at an incredible rate, I couldn’t sink and when I added ankle weights on top of the weight belt I was already wearing I would end up sinking bum first, after much flailing and freaking out I was almost ready to quit diving all together.

I didn't, but because of other circumstances I haven’t been able to go back to attempt another dry suit dive for a few weeks, tonight is the night though! Membrane suit this time, neck seal is still for a man but at least I wouldn’t need as much weight as I had last time.

Anyway, enough of that, my other half and myself are going on our honeymoon in July to Belize and I have already been measured up for a 5mm shortie (I feel the cold) which I should be getting soon hopefully.

After having looked at dive gear etc I have a rough idea what I think would suit my body shape most but would like some opinions.

I know for diving in the UK I would like a membrane suit because after the neoprene disaster I've been put off for life!

I also have been drooling over the Mares Proton Ice regulator.

Now, this is the bit I need help on… I think a wing is probably the way to go as my chest isn’t small and I think unless I get a custom made BCD I would be uncomfortable and find it extremely cluttered.

I have looked into backplates/harness system as I like the idea of a fully adjustable system, and after having read up on some other sites and reading on this forum I think I would like a halcyon eclipse, however I think I will be needing a weight harness system (like the look of the bowstone one as mentioned here) as opposed to weight belt, this is because I don't have much in the way of a waist and know that the belt will either dig in or slip down my bum which is what happened with the drysuit.

I am worried that wearing a weight harness AND a backplate/harness system will end up digging in, is this likely?

As for fins, I am thinking of going for force fins as I have found that fins that are too long make me feel like they are tripping me up or getting tangled up with eachother, has anyone tried these or would anyone recommend them?

Right I suppose that is long enough already for my first post. I will be diving in Vobster Quay, hopefully this weekend for my final Open Water Dives so will try to find out if I can borrow a Halcyon Eclipse from someone if possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

[AirAssisted]

Welcome to YD ( Don't forget to post an introduction) >> Here

Well you are doing the right thing by asking questions, best advice I can offer is get yourself down to your local shop and try the kit on, narrow the options down, and then as you have mentioned try it in the water


Try here for some other stuff (apologies for the plug!)

[Helen F H]

Hi, this is advice coming from a fellow big girl. Think blonde dawn french and you got me

I started out with a sherwood bcd, it fitted ok but wasnt great. I then moved on to a buddy trident. The problem you will find with most diving kit is that if you want a bigger size you need to get mens stuff, which wont fit you too well. The problem i had was that the waist fitted fine, but the shoulders were far too big - i could almost see under them if i sat at the surface with air in the wing! The solution was to get a strap which pulled the shoulders together, hardly ideal but it did work. If you are really concerned about a good fit, buddy will custom make you a BCD of your choice for not a lot more than you would normally pay. HOWEVER! i am now diving with a wing and backplate and harness and it fits better than anything else ever did. Please dont get put off by people saying wings are for techie divers - they aint. You can get a single cylinder wing no problems and i suspect you may feel a lot more comfortable with it. Plus it doesent squash your boobs half as much as a BCD does.
As for a harness - bowstone ones are the dogs bollocks. Dont get northern diver - they fall to bits. The harness will tend to sit lower than the back plate so will not interfere with anything and wont dig in (well mine didnt).
Drysuit - get MTM. No matter how much the shop tries to sell you XYZ off the peg (which will be a mans and be too tight over your thighs and boobs), you want MTM. Its worth the wait and i wish i had done it.

Any questions just PM me.

[jim oldham]

I am full of admiration for you determination and persistence. The experiences you have had would put a lot of people off.
Can't offer any advice I'm afraid. Wrong sex and shape for that, but the very best of luck with what ever choices you make.
Jim

[Eiderfleur]

Thanks for the help so far,

Porg I'm about the same size as Dawn French I reckon, give or take, maybe a slightly different shape I suppose.

I am glad you reckon the backplate and wing is the way to go, it kinda confirms my thoughts regarding my body type, as for being put off by people claiming wings are for techies, well I am a techie, just not a dive techie (yet) hehe.

I am also a little concerned that a halcyon eclipse will be a little too heavy, especially for travel. I had no idea how much fun i could have when it comes to looking at dive gear. Have contemplated buying a lightweight backplate from Oxycheq, they have a funky looking one which looks a little like a capital letter I, I am a little concerned about stability though for this model.

And Jim, when it comes to determination, I think you are mistaking that for sheer scorpio stubborness :P but thanks for making it sound nicer

[Helen F H]

it may be worth contacting Woz www.kitfondle.co.uk as we were discussing those very same backplates about a week ago on here. Im sure he will be able to sort you out anything you need!
Im not sure how much the Halcyon will weigh, maybe you could email Sandro at DIR zone.

[Narked@50]

Hi Eiderfleur
Welcome to YD, get in and enjoy.

Just to through another spanner in the works, have you considered a Dive Rite Transpac II harnes, stabiliser brackets and a Recwing with integrated wieghts?

There is no back plate so it is very comfortable, the stabiliser plates stop the bolts from tearing the whole thing and the Recwing is ideal for twins up to about 15L. On top of this because there is no backplate taking it on holiday is no problem, use V wieghts at home and put on a few extra Kg abroad. Simple.

That's got you thinking hasn't it?

James

[Eiderfleur]

Hiya Narked,

I've looked at the dive-rite transpac, I just "assumed" (yes I know what they say about people who assume) that an actual metal backplate would be sturdier and offer more support.

I've had back problems in the past and there is a whole range of problems I still have with back pain due to weight/chest issues etc. I am hoping to go and try some wings on (everytime we think of going something comes up and we end up postponing). Hopefully, though I will be able to try on a couple different types at Vobster.

Other half's BCD is a bit old and battered, I was looking at the Tusa Imprex Pro Cube, which he is now contemplating buying for himself, either that or a dive-rite. Being a dive instructor he's had to wear a lot of crappy gear so can probably dive in anything at all and still be alright.

Guess I won't know until I try on some gear though. Can't wait till the weekend, hopefully nothing will go wrong beforehand and end up postponing the OW dive.


~Tenny~

[Woz]

I think Mary might have a ladies specific BCD that she does not want any more (unless she's managed to flog it). A Seaquest Diva I think and in pretty good nick the last time I saw it. She sounds a similar shape to you.

Force fins you either love them or hate them. If you want some short, stiff fins then you can't go far wrong with a pair of cheap rubber original Jetfins (Northern Diver do some as do most dive shops) but stick some spring straps on them as the rubber straps are crap (but not the new Beaver spring straps as they snap too. Nice one, Beaver).

[Clare Gledhill]

Hi - I'm down at Vobster on Friday if you want to come see some kit (am in Plymouth on Saturday and Sunday though) - I've got a Halcyon eclipse wing and SS backplate which you could try for a dive if you like

Don't buy Force Fins unless you have tried some and really really like them. Then still don't buy them